Chapter 8

Basics of Chapter 8

Around 26 European ethnic groups emigrated to the U.S. from the area north of Greece and east of Germany. 
žBetween 1812-1924, more than 3 million immigrants arrived. Most members of these groups arrived in the last of the 19th century. 

ž“They settled predominantly in the cities of the north-eastern & north-central states, cities known today as the “rust belt” for the demolished or obsolete and rusting factories that once made the region the greatest manufacturing center in the world.” (pg.213) 

Poles

“The creation of a new Poland by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, no Polish state existed. Interwar Poland lasted just twenty yrs. A new one was created by the victorious allies after WW2.” (pg. 215)

-Poles who came to America lived in one of 3 main European empires- German, the Austro-Hungarian, & the Russian. Other Poles came from France.

-Ethnic Poles who came to America shared 2 characteristics: spoke Polish as mother tongue, they were roman Catholics.

-Poles followed their clergy.

-Poles that settled in American cities were driven by economic motives.

-Poles were influenced to come to America by other Poles such as Priests, relatives & friends.

  Eastern European Jews 
-250,ooo Jews in U.S. in 1880.   
-Migrated b/c they wanted to improve their standard living. 
-Migration was difficult for Eastern European Jews; they came from poor backgrounds.
-Had Religion & determination to stay in U.S.
-“The generation of eastern Europe Jews lived in a Jewish world in which Yiddish was the medium of communication….” (pg. 227)
-Biggest tragedy- Triangle Shirt Waist Fire of 1911. Other types of work was with retail trade. 

 Hungarians
 ž-Most representative of emigration from the other groups. 
ž-Magyar migration was short.
ž-Over 450,000 Hungarians came. 
ž-Most were under the age 30, 88% were literate
-Worked dangerous jobs with long hrs. at low wages.

Questions for exam

1. What were 1 of the characteristics that Poles shared?

spoke Polish as mother tongue, they were roman Catholics.

2.What was the main reason for Eastern European Jews migrating?

 they wanted to improved their living conditions.   

3. What were the primary language that the Eastern European Jews spoke?

Yiddish